Guwahati, Aug. 26: The Food and Agriculture Organisation's inter-governmental group on tea (IGG) has urged member countries to declare an International Tea Day to help generate more interest in different aspects of tea among youths and boost consumption of the brew globally.

The group, which met in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on August 12-13, requested member countries to submit letters supporting the establishment of an International Tea Day. India had first moved the proposal in 2015 for an International Tea Day at an inter-sessional meeting of the FAO-IGG.

The FAO-IGG on tea represents a forum for inter-governmental consultation and exchange on trends in production, consumption, trade and prices of tea, including regular appraisal of the global market situation and short-term outlook.

Tea currently represents the world's second most popular beverage after water. At present, there are nearly 50 countries and regions where tea is grown, and more than 160 countries and regions have tea drinking habits. Approximately three billion people consume tea globally.

More than 5,280 million kg of tea was produced globally in 2015, of which more than 1,998 million kg or 38 per cent of total production found a place in the international export market. Though tea is produced by several countries, its production is dominated by four countries - China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka. These four countries account for more than 75 per cent of production and 60 per cent of global export. In addition, countries like Vietnam and Indonesia have recently increased their shares substantially, both in production and export. The working group suggested adding a "promotion" element in tea education.

The group said health-beneficial properties of tea along with biochemical parameters related to quality can be considered jointly to promote tea internationally. A large number of projects on tea and health funded by the National Tea Research Foundation and Tea Board are being implemented to promote the health benefits of black tea.

The Golden Leaf India Awards, a classic public-private initiative by the Tea Board of India and the United Planters' Association of Southern India, Coonoor, has generated much enthusiasm.

Workshops for small tea growers were held through Krishi Vigyan Kendra and several seminars on tea and health were organised for disseminating information on health benefits of tea during the past one year.